As
the orange sun begins setting in Thailand the horizon pulls the
warmth from the city like a warm ocean current receding, and the sudden
shock of cool water sends shivers down the spine. The crooked smile of
Jezebel curves and twists with the shape of the moon as she
makes her presence known in the doorways and on the corners.
As
we make our way down the street, the neon lighting reflects faces that look
far too familiar to home in a way that I do not long to recall. A look of
panic streams across some of the faces, afraid that our faces are far
too familiar as well. I believe prayer has gone up in both parties.
Each
woman has learned her body well. She knows how to produce a
sudden flush in man’s face, a rise in body temperature, a quickened
heartbeat. They extend a lingering touch on a man’s arm suggesting he
come in for a drink of a well that promises to quench.
Aswe take our seat in the bar the women respond to genuine kindness as
if encountering it for the first time. I am mystified by their ability
to open up their arms and hearts after having them set aside for
the purpose of body and debased sex. Yet, in spite of the acts of the
men before us, we sit around a table as friends and sisters, and we play Dominos and laugh far into the night.
At times, I
find myself struggling to stay present and not retreat to my mind that
is racing with questions. With one eye on the game I watch as the youngest, with braces still on, leaves the game
to greet the man who just entered the bar. The night goes on in a
bustle of degrading music and a blurred stream of men leaving the bars
with these fragile women on their arms. Each man and woman is certain
that they are filling their cisterns- money for her, sexual
gratification for him, only to find that they are digging the well
deeper and deeper.
As
thoughts and questions fight for my attention in my head and anger
burns hot within me – God reminds me of the story He shared with His
children, the children of Israel.
erected your shrine at the head of every road, and built your high
place in every street. Yet you were not like a harlot, because you
scorned payment. You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers
instead of her husband. Men make payment to all harlots, but you made
your payments to all your lovers, and hired them to come to you from
all around your harlotry. You are the opposite of other women in your
harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave
payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite.”
Ezekiel 16:31-34
hates sin. The sin that does not accept the price Christ paid. And He
compares it to harlotry. When people sin they believe they are gaining the
world, and they are, and forfeiting their souls to the enemy. They are not
being paid or gaining anything, but in fact paying out of their souls. They
have scorned the payment that Christ paid for their freedom. They have sold themselves in to the bondage of sin where they are left to be abused.
It
is a sin that spits on the God who cries out for His children to turn to
Him with their entire heart. It is a sin against the God who, verses
earlier, says:
“As
for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not
cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed
with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any
of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown
out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you
were born.’
“And
when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said
to you ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live’ I made you
thrive like a plant in the field and you grew, matured, and became very
beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked
and bare.’
“When
I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the
time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness.
Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and
you became Mine,” says the Lord God.
Then
I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I
anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you
sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you
with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists,
and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in
your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.”
“Thus
you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine
linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour,
honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to
royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty,
for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,”
says the Lord God.
